Home Ministry to fast track DNA Identification Bill

PETALING JAYA: The Cabinet has directed the Home Ministry to table the proposed DNA Identification Bill in the next parliament meeting beginning on Aug 18, so that the law can be passed soonest.

Nanyang Siang Pau which reported this today, said however the government made it clear its move to fast-track the bill was not aimed at Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

It said the police have last year wanted the bill tabled soonest so that a DNA data bank can be set up to enhance their ability to solve cases.

This was before Anwar, who was accused of sodomy by his former aid, refused to have his DNA samples taken as part of police investigations into the case.

Earlier reports said the bill would only be presented to the parliament in December.

However, the Nanyang report said Deputy Home Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung has confirmed that the ministry will try to table the bill next month.

"If (we) cannot make it in August, (we) will table it in September or the latest by the end of the year."

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar had also said on July 10 that the final draft of the bill was being prepared by officials of the police, Chemistry Department, the Attorney-General Chambers and Home Ministry, and expected to be tabled at the next parliamentary meeting.

According to information available, Parliament will meet for 41 days between Aug 18 and Dec 11 with a break from Sept 1 to Oct 12 for Ramadan and Hari Raya.

As such it is believed that the cabinet intends to have the bill tabled and passed next month, otherwise it will have to wait until the Parliament resumes meeting in mid-October.

But with only eight days (Monday to Thursday for two weeks) to meet in August and several other bills scheduled to be tabled for debate for the duration, the big question is whether the Parliament will give priority to the tabling and debate of the DNA bill which is hot on the heels of the sodomy accusation against Anwar,

"If it does, will the public not believe that it is indeed aimed at the PKR de facto leader?" Nanyang asked.

The Sun
21/07/08